Tyson Chandler missed practice yesterday due to flu-like symptoms, but the Knicks are listing their starting center as probable for today’s matinee against the 76ers at the Garden.
“He’s fine,” Mike Woodson said. “We’ll see how he feels [this] morning when he comes to the gym, if he makes it.”
It’s unknown if Chandler was under the weather Friday, when he played just 25 minutes in a 20-point rout of the Heat.
* Though Woodson said Chandler’s status would affect his decision, the coach sounded as if he would not play backup center Marcus Camby until after the back-to-back games against the 76ers today and tomorrow. Camby didn’t play the opener either as he recovers from a strained left calf.
“I would like to get him more contact. The fact that we’ve got a 12:00 [game] and then back-to-back game, we might not be able to get practice time in,” Woodson said. “Next week we’ll have some free time after these next two games where we can practice and get a little more contact and then we’ll try to fit him in.”
The Knicks’ following game is Friday versus the Mavericks.
* With center Andrew Bynum out with a right knee bone bruise, the Sixers used a small starting lineup in their opener Wednesday. It figures Woodson will match up today with the same smaller starting lineup he used Friday against the Heat: Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd in the backcourt, Ronnie Brewer at the 3, Carmelo Anthony at the 4 and Chandler.
“Based on what they do, we’ll react accordingly,” Woodson said. “If they go small, we’ll probably go small as well. We’ll see.”
* Anthony on being introduced as “Melo Anthony” on Friday: “They messed it up, man. … I’m still Carmelo Anthony.”
Anthony on whether there’s a smarter player in the NBA than Kidd: “I don’t think so. He’s been doing it for damn near 20 years.”